L-C’s Worachek flips the switch to win state title
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MADISON – The most important decision Reece Worachek made this season didn’t come on the mat.
It was deciding to flip the switch to go from being a good wrestler to becoming a great one.
The Luxemburg-Casco junior certainly did that in winning his first WIAA state championship Saturday night at the Kohl Center.
It was only fitting that after picking up a 7-3 decision victory over Spooner/Webster senior Chase Melton to claim the 170-pound Division 2 state championship that Worachek did a backflip to celebrate.
“I wanted to win really bad after last year placing fifth,” said Worachek, who went 42-6 this season to advance to state for a third time. “I just worked hard all summer and came here and expected to win.”
Worachek became the 40th state champion in L-C’s storied wrestling history. He joins his uncle, Bob Berceau, and cousin, Mitch Berceau, in that elite group as a state champion for the Spartans.
“He’s a tireless worker,” L-C coach Chas Treml said. “He does everything. He goes to camps all the time and all the extra stuff.”
Worachek was the top-ranked wrestler in his weight class and division coming into the state tournament, which created a huge target on his back.
He advanced to the state championship with overtime decisions in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
“Once I started warming up I got a little nervous,” Worachek said about competing in the state championship. “But once I started wrestling it was all gone.
“I knew on my feet he was pretty good and I was just going to have to stay in good position on top. I knew if I was going to win I would have to get some turns. You just can’t win on bottom with your feet all the time. You have to get some bonus points on top.”
Worachek made his way to the top of the state podium as a result.
“He had his goal sheet this year,” Treml said. “One of his goals on there was to be a state champ, and he wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of that this year. I think he met those goals and then some.”
